International Assistance Dog Week

This week we celebrate dogs who are more than companions, dogs who help people with disabilities and support them at a physical and emotional level.

International Assistance Dog Week was started after the efforts of Marcie Davis, a wonderful woman who wrote the book Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guide book, a great resource with practical advise and guide about service dogs. She is also a host of the internet radio program Working like Dogs.

Dogs have an extraordinaire intelligence and ability to help, but not all breeds are recommended to be trained for service. Between the most common service dogs we have Golden Retriever and Labrador, "A good service dog is not protective, is people orientated, not overly active, confident but not dominant or submissive. Service dogs should not require complex grooming as this could be a problem for their owner"

To read more of which breeds make a good service dog and to find assistance, go to the Assistance Dog International website and find your regional chapter.

There is so much to learn about. Some of the assistance dog types are: Guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired Hearing dogs for the deaf and hard of hearing Service dogs for people with other disabilities like Brace/Mobility Support Dogs (BMSD), Wheelchair Assistance Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs), Severe Allergy Alert Dogs (AADs), Seizure Response Dogs, Medical Alert Dogs (MADs) and Psychiatric Service Dog (PSDs) just to mention the most common types.

This week, some groups are organizing events to educate people and raise awareness about why these dogs are so important and cherished. If you want to organize an event, follow this link and download the materials you need (including banners) http://youtu.be/FkyeESrDywc

Celebrate Assistance dogs by spreading the word. Do you or a family member or friend have the blessing of enjoying the company of a service dog? Tell us about it in the comments section below! We would love to hear about your experience.

Note: The images in this post are from the International Assistance Dog Week website.

Designing for a Good Cause: ITSOA

Some time ago, I was approached by Kristi, a dog lover and founder of ITSOA (International Team to Save Olympic Animals) She started a Facebook page - initially named "Save Sochi Dogs"- for a good cause, to spread the word about adopting stray dogs from Sochi. She now has about 8,400 followers from around the world. The mission of ITSOA is to "inspire the International Olympic Committee and the future host cities & countries of the Olympic Games to ensure that no animals are harmed or exploited in the name of the Olympics."

I am excited to participate with this cause. I designed the logo for ITSOA as a simple icon that incorporates the Olympic rings colors and represents the paw of a dog (or other animals as well) With the help of volunteers we can make a difference and make sure animals will not be harmed in the next Olympic event.

If you are interested to volunteer, visit the Facebook page for a list of open positions or contact ITSOA at ITSOAjobs@gmail.com

It feels so good to contribute to a good cause!

Adopting a Dog: Home for Hope

"Home is where the heart is" and a big part of that heart can be a dog. A wonderful initiative in Singapore between Save Our Street Dogs, Animal Lovers League and different stores including IKEA, will help more dogs to become part of a family.

IKEA is displaying at some stores in Singapore life-size cardboard standees in the showrooms where people can scan a QR code that goes directly to the site and the dog's information and videos.

If you have a store or retail business, why not team up with shelters and animal organizations to do the same? Creative ideas go viral and that is the beauty of the internet, when good causes and projects can inspire others!

You can read more about this at the Homes for Hope website.

DOG: A Beautiful Song

Songs are inspired by love, breakups, nature, family, friends, God and many other feelings, but this song was inspired by the beauty and happiness to have a Dog. Nat Johnson, a songwriter, singer and guitarist from the UK wrote it a year ago after walking at Rivelin Valley Park. She was inspired by looking at dog owners running free and having fun with their dogs and by how she wanted to feel after being a person who was always thinking and rushing about her next project. One day walking at the park and surrounded by nature, she was inspired to write the DOG son. Read more about her inspiration here.

In her own words: "The dog in the song doesn’t have to be real, he’s just a guide to a life approach. To remind yourself to look for that feeling of happiness and contentment wherever you can find it. Walking, with all of your senses wide open, is one way to find it. And when you go off the main path, like I did that day in Whiteley Woods, that’s when it becomes a real adventure; that’s when it feels like playing. Dog or no dog, it’s important to walk."

You can read more about Nat Johnson and her music on her website and download the song from iTunes or Bandcamp.

This song really makes me feel like I am at that magical place running with my dog! and the beautiful video created by Fettle Animation reflects that too.

If I had a dog, I’d call him to me

And we would forget about work and everything And I would run and he would run And I would call and he would come If I had a dog, I’d tell him my name And we would forget about money and everything And I would throw and he would go And I would talk and he would know

It’s important to walk There are friends yet to meet My dog says “Forget about it!”  My dog says “Let’s run in the woods” 

I will run and he will run I will call and he will come

Happy 5 de Mayo!

Happy 5 de Mayo! Did you have a celebration on the weekend? Are you having some "margaritas" today to celebrate?

It is an important celebration in México, but it is more celebrated in the US. Click here to read more about 5 de Mayo.

Techichi

And to stay into the Mexican history, do you want to learn more about the Chihuahua dog?

"The Chihuahua’s history is puzzling and there are many theories surrounding the origin of the breed. Both folklore and archaeological finds show that the breed originated in Mexico. The most common and most likely theory is that Chihuahuas are descended from the Techichi, a companion dog favored by the Toltec civilization in Mexico"

To read more about it click here.

Best Pet Sitter

You know the feeling when you are at work or traveling hundreds of miles away and you want to go back to your home where your furry friend is waiting for you… but you smile because you have the best pet sitter in the world.

It is not easy to find someone who is kind and reliable and most important, who makes "click" with your dog(s). Celebrate your pet sitter and show your appreciation with this free "card-award". Click here to download the template, print, trim and write a personal note inside.

If you have a super-special-awesome dog's best friend… congratulations!

Share your experience in the comments below.